Improvement in grain separators



" 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. J. P. STOTT'.

GRAIN-SEPARAT-OR. No. 178,200. Patented. May-30, 1876.

I. iii

2 Sheets-Sheet Z.

J'. P. STOTT. GRAIN-SEPARATOR. No.178,ZDO. Patented May 30,1876'.

N, Ferias. Pnorolmuoewnen. WASHINGTON' D l UN rrED N 4S'rA'rE's.

PATENT EErcE,A

JOHN P. *sfro'r'lg ,or BAYARD,`AssIeNoR or ."PART 0E AHis RIGHT 'ro FRED, ERIc M1LLER AND JAcoRA WALKER, or MINERVA, oEIo.

IMPROVEMENT IIN GRAINSEPARATORS.`

' Specitication forming part of LLetters Patent No. 178,200, dated May 30, 1876; application filed March 25, 1876.

marked thereon, which form a part of this specification. n

This invention relates tocertain improvements in the construction of the shoe of thrashing-machines, in whichthe grain is cleaned from dust, chaff, and straw by the winnowing process and it consists in the construction and arrangement ofthe operative parts, in the manner and for the purpose hereinafter more fully described, and pointed outin thefclaims. In the drawing, Figure 1 represents a top plan. Fig. 2 is a verticalsection in the plane indicated by line x w in Figs. -1 andra. Fig.V

Bis a side elevation. Fig. 4is a bottom plan, and Fig. 5 is an elevation ofthe front or feed end.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is the shoe, affixed to the rear end of which, and forming part of the same, is the feed board or chute Ab B is a frame, pivoted to the upper front part of the shoe, at b, upon which is affixed a screen or V sieve, C. This consists of a piece of sheet metal, curved in an upward direction at O', so as to give the grain:` and straw falling upon it a startv down over the lower perforated part C. The perforations in the partdenoted by C are circu:

'lar holes, preferably` about one inch-` and a quarter in diameter; `and to the rear of frame B is aflixed a series of projecting teeth,4 forming a rake, D, which, when the sieve C is in the position shown in Fig. l, abut against the top edge of the tail-board A2, so as to reach over and cover the spout a. Underneath frame .B is ,another sieve-frame, E, pi voted to the rear end ofthe shoe at e. Frame E is divided by cross-pieces E into three sections, each of which is covered by a perforated piece of sheet metal, Fl F2 F3, so as to form a secondary sieve, consisting of three successive the current of air from the fan-box' G to pass through-from the front to the rear part of the shoe. Below theV secondary sieve E in the bottom of the shoe is aixed a Wire screen or riddle, H, abutting against a slan ting board,

h, in the rear part ofthe shoe. In the bottom of the front end of shoe is an opening, covered by a hinged board or door, I. The sieve C and sieve-frame E may be adjusted relatively to each otherby means of the mechanism which I shall n ow describe. K is a lever, pivoted at k, which operates a rod, L, that reaches forward to the bent lever M, pivotcd at c. To the other arm of lever M is pivoted 'a rod, N, that reaches up to a staple, n, projecting at right angles from the sieve-frame E. Bent lever M also operates a shaft, O, to

which it is attached at its fulcum c, which passes across the bottom of the shoe, resting in bearings d d at `each side. Shaft O has a bent tongue, P, projecting at right angles, which, when lever K is pushed toward the front part of shoe, Will press against the cutott' board I, causing it to open. lever K in the opposite direction, theV screenboard I will close by its own weight, tongue P (which supports it in its open position) being withdrawn from it. v

To the other endof shaft() is secured a arm, M', at right angles from which a rod, N',

passes up to a staple, a', projecting at right angles from the frame E, opposite to staple a. Thus it will be seen that by pushing lever K toward the front end of shoe the cut-off I is closed, and the front part of frame E is lowered, while by moving itin the opposite direction the cutoff I is pushed open by` tongue P, and the front end of frame E is raised. Afixed upon frame E are two uprights, 2 2, one at each side, which serve as supports for the upper frame B, pivoted at b. When, therefore, frame E is lowered, it follows that the By moving rearportion ot' the upper frame B',which rests upon the supports 2 2, is lowered also, while, it' frame E is raised, the rear part ot' upper frame B will be raised. Frames B and E being pivoted at opposite ends, it follows that the operation of raising them reduces the angle, relative to each other, at which they arey placed in the shoe, while by lowering themY from their respective pivoting-points the angle at which they are placed acute.

From the foregoing description the operation of the machine may be readily understood. The grain, as it comes from the thrashing-machine, is placed upon the inclined slide C ot'- the top sieve C, which gives it a start downl over the sieve.v The grain and ehatt are scattered over sieves F1, F2, `and F3 below, while the long straw is carried oft' over the perforations in 'sieve C and the rake D. While t'alling from the upper to the lower sieve, and

i also while dropping from step to step ot' the f latter, the grain is subjected to the air-current from the fan blowing in thedirection ot' the arrows, which thoroughly cleanses it of eha", dust,lan,d tailings, these, with other impurities, being blown forward` into the elevatortrough a. 1

It will be observed that the air-current passes not only in an upward direction through the space between sieves C and F, but also in a straight horizontal direction through the perforations in the crosspieces E', thereby subA jecting the grain to a twofold and thorough action-viz., tirst, while it falls from the `upper to the lower sieve, and, secondly, while it,.in being y,forced rearward by lthe current, drops from step to step of the latter. The slanting board h, placed at the hind end ot' wire screen H, forces" that part ot' the air-current which passes under sieves F1 F2 F3, up against `and through the rake D, thereby preventing ity from being choked up by the straw.

ln clearing wheat, rye, barley, buckwheat, & 'c., lever the K should be pushed toward the rearot' shoe, so as to decrease the space between sieves C and F at the rear part ot' shoe, but increase it at the opposite end. This also has the eii'ectot' raising the rake D up above the is mader more.

l lsa .y l 178,200

top edge oftrough a, and of opening the screendoor Lthus allowingv the screenings to pass down into the screen-box placed under I. In cleaning oats, where a longer and more powerful action ot' the blast is required, the lever K is moved in the opposite direction, therebyT bringing sieves U and F close together, ata

sharp angle, in the rear part ot' shoe, and'closin g the screen-door,y which compels the grain' to workforward to the vfront end of shoe, all the oats that pass through the screen H being carried.l the entire distance forward into the screw. i

Having thus described my invention, IclaimV and desire to secure byv Letters Patent of the United States- 1. The combination ot' the shoeA with the swinging sieve-frames B and E, pivoted at opposite ends ot' theshoe at b and e, lrespectively, substantially as and for the purpose hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the swinging sieve o r riddle O with the sieve-frame E. having standards or uprights 2 2, for the support ot' the upper sieve C, substantially as and for the purpose herein shownand specified.

3. The combination of the lever K, rod L,

bent lever M, rod N, and frame E, substantially as and for the `purpose herein shown and -In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I'have heretbiaflixed my signature in presenceot' two witnesses.

JOHN PATERSON sToTT.

Witnesses J oHN FRELTZ, WILLIAM QUIN. p 

